NATO activates ACCS

NATO announced on 3 July that it has activated its Air Command and Control System (ACCS), with the first site in Italy becoming operational.

The first ACCS site to achieve operational status is Poggio Renatico, Italy, which hosts a NATO air command and control centre and a deployable ACCS capability for conducting air operations in and out of the NATO region. This capability may also support the organisation's readiness action plan, if required.

The first real-life air policing event controlled with the NATO ACCS also took place in June. Once fully deployed, the ACCS will cover ten million square kilometres of airspace and interconnect over 20 military aircraft control centres.

Patrick Auroy, assistant secretary general for defence investment, NATO, said: 'This is a major step forward. I express my great appreciation to the Italian authorities and to NATO's air command and control community, the NATO Communication and Information Agency and industry who made this possible. I look forward to the speedy activation of the next sites. This system is a good example of integrated national and NATO defence capabilities.'